Central Alberta Amateur Radio Club
Radioworld Central Grand Opening
Jul 9th
Dear Friends,
Everyone at GPS Central and Radioworld is thrilled to announce the “GRAND OPENING” of our new retail store “Radioworld Central” in Calgary, AB. We wish to invite you to join us in celebrating this exciting occasion on Saturday July 26th, 2014.
We have partnered with the very best manufacturers including Garmin, Lowrance, Simrad, Humminbird, MinnKota, Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood, FlexRadio, Minelab, Garrett, Uniden, Cobra, K40, Wilson Antenna, Bushnell, Celestron, Globalstar, ACR, BlueFox and many others to offer consumers the very best products, sales assistance and technical support from the most experienced staff in the industry, a core value built and proven over the past 15 years.
Radioworld Central’s focus is to provide the widest selection of products for Commuters, Travellers, Geocachers, Amateur Radio operators, Metal Detectorists, Anglers, Hunters, Hikers, Backpackers, Runners, Golfers, Bikers, Riders, Pilots, Truckers, RVers, Shortwave Radio enthusiasts, Weather enthusiasts and beyond, all at competitive pricing and service second to none. We specialize in providing smart electronics into niche markets and never stop searching for the next great product to bring to our customers.
Everyone at Radioworld and GPS Central are excited to be one team and will strive to continue to be Canada’s favourite Navigation and Communications retailer for years to come.
Please join us for the GRAND OPENING festivities and for a FREE BBQ Lunch that day!
Thank You for your support.
Angelo Meffe Jack Summers George Valentine
President Marketing Manager General Manager
angelo@radioworld.ca jack@radioworld.ca gvalentine@gpscentral.ca
VA6DX FPV Flight over Red Deer Picnic
Jun 19th
From Barry Bergstrom VA6DX
Hey Bob. Here’s a quick video of the FPV flight from last weekend. You’re welcome to embed it on the CAARC site if you like; just but a note on to watch it in 720p or 1080p for a better effect.
Thanks Barry great video
Bob VE6BLD
RAC ARES
Jun 17th
RAC/ARES meets in Red Deer Alberta
RAC/ARES members took advantage of the recent Central Alberta Amateur Radio Club Hamfest in Red Deer Alberta to meet and discuss issues ranging from recruitment training and organization.
Alberta ARES has had a busy period providing communication services to their communities with the recent floods in Calgary and High River and the Slave Lake fires as only two examples.
Left to right… Neal Sunderland VE6NL the new Section Emergency Coordinator for Alberta, often seen driving around the province visiting members in his Holiday Rambler Class A RV, Jeff Low VA6JL Red Deer Emergency Coordinator and veteran of the recent floods as well as Garry Jacobs VE6CIA Alberta Section Manager. Inset, Ian Burgess VA6EMS Emergency Coordinator for Calgary. [1]
Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW
Acting CFSO and President RAC
Acting CFSO and President RAC
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[1] Web link and photos: http://wp.rac.ca/racares-meet-in-red-deer-alberta/
Red Deer Picnic
Jun 17th
June 16th 2014
Red Deer Hamfest – Central Alberta Amateur Radio Club
Hams from many parts of Alberta met last weekend at a hamfest in Red Deer hosted by the Central Alberta Amateur Radio Club (CAARC).
Groups such as the Southern Alberta Amateur Radio Club (SARA) and Alberta RAC/ARES took advantage of the opportunity to meet and conduct their business. RAC President Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW and Director Mitch Mitchell, VE6OH, (Alberta and Northwest Territories and Nunavut) were proud to make a presentation of RAC shirts to CAARC Club President Bob King VE6BLD and Garry Jacobs, VE6CIA Alberta Section Manager.
Mr. Bawden made a presentation on the recent history of RAC and outlined our future. The return of RAC to financial solvency and its accomplishments since 2010 were discussed with members.
RAC would like to acknowledge and thank CAARC for the grant of $600 to help cover Mr. Bawden’s travel expenses.
Mr. Bawden will be visiting other groups in Alberta before he returns home to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
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Web link with photo: http://wp.rac.ca/red-deer-hamfest-central-alberta-amateur-radio-club/
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Rac Comms
RCMP
Jun 17th
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police amateur radio Group in Ottawa will be operating a Special Event Station VE3RCMPduring the Field Day contest weekend, June 28-29, 2014. We plan also to activate the call sign during the RAC Canada Day Contest July 1st.
The Special Event Amateur Station will be commemorating the 75th anniversary of the first RCMP owned and operated radio-to-patrol-car dispatch system that was commissioned in the fall of 1939 using the call sign VY8T and thus initiated a continuing Radio Support-Service within Force. VE3RCMP during Field Day will be operated by current and retired members of what is currently known as the RCMP National Radio Services Directorate, Ottawa.
The last time VE3RCMP was obtained for field day operations was in 1989 during the the 50th anniversary. We hope the 4 letter suffix will not cause too much confusion to other FD contest station operators.
Special QSL cards are being prepared to confirm contacts with VE3RCMP.
Norm Rashleigh, VE3LC
RAC Bulletin
Jun 16th
June 16th 2014
Red Deer Hamfest – Central Alberta Amateur Radio Club
Hams from many parts of Alberta met last weekend at a hamfest in Red Deer hosted by the Central Alberta Amateur Radio Club (CAARC).
Groups such as the Southern Alberta Amateur Radio Club (SARA) and Alberta RAC/ARES took advantage of the opportunity to meet and conduct their business. RAC President Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW and Director Mitch Mitchell, VE6OH, (Alberta and Northwest Territories and Nunavut) were proud to make a presentation of RAC shirts to CAARC Club President Bob King VE6BLD and Garry Jacobs, VE6CIA Alberta Section Manager.
Mr. Bawden made a presentation on the recent history of RAC and outlined our future. The return of RAC to financial solvency and its accomplishments since 2010 were discussed with members.
RAC would like to acknowledge and thank CAARC for the grant of $600 to help cover Mr. Bawden’s travel expenses.
Mr. Bawden will be visiting other groups in Alberta before he returns home to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Web link with photo: http://wp.rac.ca/red-deer-hamfest-central-alberta-amateur-radio-club/–
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Rac Comms
Guest Operation in Brazil during FIFA 2014 World Cup
Jun 9th
Guest Operation in Brazil during FIFA 2014 World Cup
2014/06/09
The Brazilian Amateur Radio League – LABRE – has filed a request and obtained special permission from ANATEL, the Brazilian Telecommunication authority for foreign amateurs wishing to operate during the FIFA World Cup.
Radio amateur operators who visit Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup will be able to be on air without bureaucracy. During June and July, any foreign amateur will be able to operate in Brazil regardless of the existence of reciprocity agreement between countries. No IARP or CEPT license are necessary and no fees are required.
Amateurs who wish to operate in Brazil must send to LABRE the following documents
– Copy of a valid passport (identification pages)
– Copy of amateur radio license of his/her country
– List of cities in which he/she intends to operate and the respective periods
– Email address for contact
The documents must be scanned and sent to executiva@labre.org.br
For further information, contact George Gorsline, VE3YV RAC International Affairs Officer.
VE3YV@rac.ca
MS Bike Tour 2014
Jun 9th
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I had enough volunteers sign up and the event went splendidly!
VE6BLL, VE6BLD, VE6CIA, VE6HPY, VE6MIM, VE6UNK, VE6XY, VE6SYL, VE6VY, and VA6JL for assisting via EcoLink. Thank you for your time. You all did a fantastic job.
Radio airwaves get buzzed from pot
Jun 8th
Subject: Radio airwaves get buzzed from pot
BlankRan across this in USA Today. Thanks BOB K6YBV!!
Radio airwaves get buzzed from pot By Trevor Hughes,
A few years ago, retired electrical engineer Tom Thompson noticed it was
getting harder and harder to hear his friends across the country talking to
him on their ham radio sets. So Thompson built a portable antenna system to
track down whatever was interfering with his radio transmission.
The culprit? Marijuana grow operations, whose powerful grow lights can emit
interference blocking radio broadcasts on the ham and AM spectrums.
The first grower he encountered wasn’t pleased to know Thompson, now 73,
could tell what was going on. “He said, ‘What are you going to do, call the
cops?’ Thompson said. “And I said, ‘Well no, it’s a federal matter.
‘ With 22 states and the District of Columbia allowing medical marijuana,
and Colorado and Washington permitting recreational use, there’s been an
explosion in the number of people growing their own pot, much of it indoors.
With that growth has come increasing interference from the grow lights,
which suck down huge amounts of electricity to shine upon budding marijuana
plants. Growing pot indoors is usually more secure and gives the grower more
control over light, water and insects, which results in higher-quality
plants commanding a premium price.
The interference problems from one type of system have gotten so bad that
the amateur radio association, ARRL, filed a formal federal complaint on
behalf of the country’s 720,000 licensed ham operators. The problems are
worse in Colorado and California, said Sean Kutzko, an ARRL spokesman.
The interference is caused by what are known as “ballasts,” electronic
systems controlling the grow lights. Unless they’re properly shielded, the
ballasts can throw off a wide range of interference. “We’re seeing numerous
cases … and that’s causing us a problem,” Kutzko said. “We just want to
make sure the manufacturers are in compliance with FCC laws. The FCC has the
power to regulate anything that interferes with licensed radio
transmissions, such as ham sets, but also cellphones and AM radios.
